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Friend’s fundraising drive to aid Colne cancer girl’s family

A LOYAL friend is raising money to send a little girl who has battled cancer and her mum on a dream holiday.

Morgan Hewitt, 10, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare form of cancer which only affects 650 people a year, in 2012.

Park Primary School, Colne, pupil Morgan has undergone chemotherapy treatment at Leeds General Infirmary and the hospital's fundraising arm, Candlelighters, offered the family a free holiday to Scarborough at the beginning of August.

Her mum Cat was looking forward to spending time with her two children outside of a hospital setting but once in Scarborough, Morgan fell ill and the holiday was cancelled. Cat said: “Poor Morgan was devastated. She was extremely ill and all she could say was ‘I’ve ruined it for everyone’. It was such a shame.

“I stay at home to care for Morgan full-time and I never thought we’d afford a holiday anywhere.

Candlelighters only offer holidays on a site in Scarborough and are all booked up now so we couldn’t get anything else.”

Cat’s friend of 17 years, Tracy Anderson, decided she wanted to help her friends.

The busy mother of nine is organising a fundraising event to collect donations that will go towards sending the Hewitts on a holiday in September.

A voucher for a Haven Holiday at Cala Gran has been secured by the family and Tracy is hoping to raise money for the family to get there and for some much needed spending money.

Tracy, 34, said: “They’re a great family and I just wanted to do something to help.

“Morgan is so brave. She’s a happy child and she just gets on with whatever is thrown at her and smiles through everything.

“She’s wonderful and I just wanted to help. Cat’s a single mum and so she doesn’t have lots of money to spend but they really need some family time together.

“All the money we raise will go to the family and anything not used on the holiday will help towards Morgan’s treatment.”

Tracy has secured Byron Road Community Centre for her event but the date is yet to be confirmed.

She has also set up a webpage which people can use to donate to the cause. For more information on how to donate, email tracytrex26xx@hotmail.co.uk.